 |
|
| Season | Pokémon: Advanced Battle (Season 8) · Back to Kanto: the Battle Frontier begins arc (AG132–AG136) |
| Episode | Season 8, episode 39 · English episode 404 · Japanese episode 408 · Bulbapedia code AG132 |
| English title | The Scheme Team |
| Japanese title | エニシダとバトルフロンティア！ Enishida to Batoru Furontia! — “Enishida and the Battle Frontier!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 23 June 2005 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 8 April 2006 · Kids’ WB |
| Screenplay | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Pokémon Symphonic Medley – Pokémon Symphonic Orchestra · GLORY DAY ~Kagayaku Sono Hi~ (That Shining Day) – GARDEN |
| English opening | Unbeatable – David Rolfe |
| Pokémon Trainer’s Choice | Arcanine or Kirlia — which has the advantage? (Arcanine / Kirlia) → Arcanine (wrong: the match-up is neutral; only two choices, and Arcanine is heard with Growlithe’s cry) |
| Previous episode | At the End of the Fray (AG131) |
| Next episode | The Right Place and the Right Mime (AG133) |
Plot episodeBattle Frontier announcedScott & Agatha debut
The Scheme Team is the 39th episode of Pokémon: Advanced Battle, the eighth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 404th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 408, Bulbapedia code AG132). It first aired in Japan on 23 June 2005 and in the United States on 8 April 2006. It falls within the season’s Back to Kanto: the Battle Frontier begins stretch (EP132–EP136).
Aired on 8 April 2006 straight after the delayed Pacifidlog Jam.
Synopsis
After the Conference, Ash says goodbye to Morrison and Tyson and meets May, Max and Brock in Oldale Town, where Munchlax devours most of a farewell lunch of rice balls before Brock produces some spares. The friends promise to keep in touch and go their separate ways: May and Max home to Petalburg City, where Caroline welcomes them into the greenhouse, Brock to Pewter City, and Ash back to Kanto. At a rebuilt Team Rocket headquarters, Jessie and James claim credit for defeating Team Aqua and Team Magma; a sceptical Giovanni assigns them to Antarctica, Butch and Cassidy zoom past on new scooters, and the trio’s own “upgraded” equipment turns out to be pogo sticks, which they promptly fall off.
In Viridian City Ash meets a cheerful man named Scott, who mentions something called the Battle Frontier, and then the elderly Agatha, standing in as Viridian Gym Leader until an official one arrives, invites him to battle. Pikachu faces her Gengar. Quick Attack passes straight through the Ghost-type, and Agatha teases Ash for forgetting such a basic rule. Although Pikachu nearly wins with Thunder, Gengar’s Shadow Ball, Double Team, Hypnosis and Dream Eater beat him. Agatha then reveals that she is a member of the Kanto Elite Four, and with this episode Ash and Pikachu have met every member of the Kanto Elite Four from both the original and the Generation III games. Scott, who has followed Ash into the Gym, acts as referee for the match.
Team Rocket try to grab Pikachu with a mechanical arm, but Agatha’s Golbat cuts the rope with Air Cutter and Pikachu blasts them off. Scott explains that the Battle Frontier consists of seven facilities across Kanto run by Frontier Brains, shown only in silhouette; earning Frontier Symbols from six of them reveals the secret seventh. Ash decides to take on the challenge. Back home in Pallet Town he is welcomed by Delia, Professor Oak and Misty, who now has an Azurill hatched from an Egg laid by Tracey’s Marill. To Ash’s surprise, Max then pulls up in a car with Professor Birch, ready to travel again. It is the last episode with Hirotaka Suzuoki as the Japanese voice of Giovanni, and the first in which the name Kanto is spoken.
Major Events
- The group split up after the Conference
- Scott and Agatha debut
- Ash loses to Agatha and decides to take on the Battle Frontier
- Misty returns with an Azurill
- Max arrives in Pallet Town with Professor Birch
- Last episode with Hirotaka Suzuoki as Giovanni
- First time the name Kanto is spoken
Captures and evolutions
Azurill#0298 · Misty · hatched from an Egg laid by Tracey’s Marill
Trivia
- The English title plays on "the dream team".
- The screenplay is by Yukiyoshi Ōhashi.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Hoenn storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- Viridian City sign text removed
- Vocal and instrumental Advance Adventure
- Aim to Be a Pokémon Master
Part of our Pokémon: Advanced Battle guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.